Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-03-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
wAsnINGTox, d. G. March II, 1887,

w hCllN lO-Nf ~ " FltlNN Anf AR'As
Lent and the adjournment of Con-
gress have made n great calm in the
erst- while busy social world of the
Capital. The change is especially notice
able at the White House, which has
been the scene Of almost constant and
brilliant official h0spitalitics since the
beginning of the season. It's mistress
(snce the departure of her mother and
death of her grand-mother) has spent
most of the time at their country home,
10 which the President drives after the
duties Of the day are over, returning in
the morning
! Mrs. Cleveland is a remarkably ami
able woman, and she has constant need
of this attribute in her present position.
Every day during the past winter she
received quantities Of notes, cards, let
lers, and everything else in the shape
of communication, and, as n young
lady visiting at the White House at
that time remarked" she really tried to
answer them ALL" Then people would
come to see her mt all sorts of incOn-
venient hours and she would sometimes
ask the usher if they were old or young.
If they were old people she would go
down to see them no matter when they
came.
The President is now giving his at
tention to the selection of Interstate
Commerce Commissioners from among
the hundreds of names that have been
recommended to him. Much of the de-
lay in announcing the appointments
is due to his desire to select the best
possible men for the positions, and in
| this he has been considerably restricted
| by not being able to get the best quail
| fled men to serve Mt the moderate sal
aries fixed by the law.
The law provides that it shall 60 into
effect sixty days after its passage. The
time will expire on the fourth of April,
and as it is desirable that the Commis-
sioners should have some time for
organization and consultation before
that time, it is probable that the APP
pOintments will be announced some
time this week. Nothing has been
made known at tn e White House as to
who will constitute the Commission,
but it is the belief that Col Morrison,
of Illinois; Judge Cooley, of Michigan,
and Col. Bragg, of Alabama, will be
three of the men selected.
Some of the most energetic and pub
lie spirited citizens of Washington are
discussing the feasibility of holding a
carnival here at the conclusion of the
National Drill in May, such as annu-
Orleans. Advocates of the scheme urge
that unless the carnival be pushed
through now it will be impossible to
hold one for four years. The Presiden-
tial campaign and the Inauguration
ceremonies will furnish displays and
draw upon private purse strings
Sufficiently for the next two years, and
the third year will witness the grand
knights Templar conclave. 1t is esti-
mated that any creditable Carnival will
necessitate an out lay of $25, 900, and in
order to save expense it is proposed to
buy or hire the costumes and cars of the
New Orleans Knights of Momus and
Proteus.
Capt. Eads, who was one of the best
known men in America, has been es-
pecially well known in Washington for
some years past. The Eads "Jetty sys-
tenn" which figured before Congress for
so many years, attracts more attention
than any other private or corporate
business before that body in the last
decade and half.
It is said at the Mexican Legation
here that the death of Capt. Eads will
not interfere with the status of the con-
i cession made to him by the Mexican
Government for ship railway across
the Peninsula of Tehuantepec. The
concession included both Capt. Eads
and his associates in the enterprise, and
remains in force for period of ninety
nine years. Ofcourse his death causes
some speculation as TO the probable fate
of the scehme, as it may be very difficult
to find some one equally well qualified
to carry out the project.
Mr.. Connery, who has just been ap-
pointed to the Mexican mission, has
not declined the honor, as was reported,
but has accepted that position. The
rumor about his refusal originated in
the dissatisfaction of his friends, who
are averse to his going there on what
they consider such inadequate compen-
sation. He, himself, insists that Amer
lean Diplomatists should be better paid.
Said he "the pay of these positions is
just about enough to provide decent
rent. expect to be bankrupted before
I return. "But," continued he Qaugh-
ing) "money is not everything in this
world, you know"